Letterman 1994: “The Absolute Worse Hair in Show Business”
David Letterman in late 1994.
Late Night with David Letterman was a nightly hour-long comedy talk show on NBC hosted by David Letterman. It premiered in 1982 and went off the air in 1993, after Letterman left NBC and moved to the Late Show on CBS. Late Night with Conan O’Brien then filled the time slot. In 1991, the show’s three production companies — Carson Productions, Worldwide Pants, and NBC Productions — were awarded a Peabody Award, which cited the following: In the past ten years, one show has moved to the position of the leader in late night television in creativity, humor, and innovation. That program is Late Night With David Letterman. As one member of the Peabody Board remarked, “David Letterman is a born broadcaster.” He is also a savvy co-executive producer. Along with co-executive producer Jack Rollins, producer Robert Morton, director Hal Gurnee, and musical director Paul Shaffer, Mr. Letterman has surrounded himself with exceptional talent and given them the go-ahead to experiment with the television medium. Particularly noteworthy is the work of head writer Steve O’Donnell and his talented staff. Together, the “Late Night” team manages to take one of TV’s most conventional and least inventive forms — the talk show — and infuse it with freshness and imagination. For television programming which, at its best, is evocative of the greats, from Your Show of Shows, to The Steve Allen Show, and The Ernie Kovacs Show, a Peabody to Late Night With David Letterman. The program ran four nights a week, Monday to Thursday, from the show’s premiere in February 1982 until May 1987 from 12:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. Friday shows were added in June 1987 (NBC previously, aired Friday Night Videos in the 12:30 a.m. slot with occasional Late Night specials and reruns). Starting in September 1991, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was pushed back from 11:30 p.m. to 11:35 p.m., with Letterman starting at 12:35 a.m., at the request of NBC affiliates who wanted more advertising time for their profitable late newscasts (though Letterman had a different reason for the delay: “With the extra five minutes, I will make certain that my make-up is absolutely perfect!”).
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July 5th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
so it is true, his …
so it is true, his show used to be funny. what do you know
July 5th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
He’s got a wig on!! …
He’s got a wig on!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 5th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
Agreed…Letterman …
Agreed…Letterman is a pioneer of every talk show host today from Conan to Kimmel
July 5th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
great era for this …
great era for this show
July 5th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
That’s bc Conan …
That’s bc Conan admired the heck out of Letterman, as well as all the other talk-show hosts of this generation (like Stewart).
I’ve been watching Conan from the start, and it was pretty obvious he was taking alot of inspriation (though of course he still innovated) from Letterman, including his dry humor during the skits and self-depreciation.
July 5th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
verrryyyy cool goth …
verrryyyy cool goth chick
July 5th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
“Is that RUBBER …
“Is that RUBBER oaaoshaFFghs oaasdfshoa She has some kind of RUBBER PANTS on?!!” … Americans..
July 5th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
This is exactly the …
This is exactly the kind of thing that Conan would do.
July 5th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
most entertaining …
most entertaining television I have seen in a long time
July 5th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
I know he’s changed …
I know he’s changed, but man I’d love to see his show go back to this style.
July 5th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
AHAHAHAAA CLASSIC!!
AHAHAHAAA CLASSIC!!
July 5th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
i had forgotten how …
i had forgotten how funny this guy is – he sure beats the crap out of that dud Conan
July 5th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
Letterman is a true …
Letterman is a true class act.
July 5th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
“Freeze, Hair-boy!”
“Freeze, Hair-boy!”
July 5th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
What the f’ck???
What the f’ck???
July 5th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
heh… good times
heh… good times
July 5th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
Love these vintage …
Love these vintage late night stuff. Thank you for posting.
July 5th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
haha I want this …
haha I want this show here too..
*sigh*
July 5th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
He’s always funny.. …
He’s always funny…Leno and Conan are hacks!
July 5th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
Back when wasn’t …
Back when wasn’t bitter and semi-funny